Meeting ends

Look out for further coverage from getreading in the coming days, but that’s all from us this evening.

21:22

Plans for Caversham homes approved.

Cllr Robinson says there are very few planning reasons to refuse the plan, he says he is happy to agree with the group and support the plans,

Cllr Livingston says “there is every chance” the developer will withdraw the appeal.

The plans are approved.

21:19

Cllr Duveen

Cllr Duveen says the land is “wild” at the moment, and there is a “significant area of undeveloped land” on the site and says the plans are a “vast improvement” on the original plans.

Cllr Livingston says the applicants, Henley Road Ltd, should be congratulated on coming up with “some good solutions” for a very difficult site.

21:16

Caversham homes plan

This is a plan for 42 homes in Henley Road in Caversham.

It follows a plan earlier in the year for 60 homes, councillors called “ill-conceived”.

This smaller plan containing a block of flats and homes at the rear of the property.

Cllr Simon Robinson is speaking.

He says the plan for 60 homes is under appeal, and says what happens if that appeal is won, even if this plan is approved.

He suggests the plans should be deferred until the appeal is heard.

21:11KEY EVENT

Reading Bus natural gas storage approved

And now to something completely different.

This is a plan from Reading Buses to put up a relocated gas compression station including a 6.15m high steel frame and platform, as well as two compressed natural gas storage units and equipment.

A short discussion has been had and the plans are approved.

21:07KEY EVENT

Permission granted for flats in Queen Victoria Streeet

The committee gives permission for more Reading town centre apartments.

21:06

Flats in Queen Victoria Street

This plan for a listed building was deferred at the last meeting over concerns over affordable housing money.

Cllr Page says this is a “difficult listed building”.

An agreement has now been made about a contribution of £70,000 contribution towards affordable homes elsewhere in Reading.

The developer is Pepa Holdings and the recommendation is the plans are approved.

The plans are for 15 one bedroom flats and four two bedroom flats.

20:56KEY EVENT

Changes to Allcroft Road home refused

Chairman Cllr Livingston says the committee are “all concerned” about the proximity to neighbouring properties and says it’s reasonable to say that the windows should stay the same.

20:53

Cllr Hopper

This plan is a part retrospective plan, and Cllr Hopper says he’s not happy with the fact the building has been built in a different way to the agreed permission.

He says it’s “annoying” the applicant has not stuck to what was agreed and is now trying to get permission changed after it has been built.

Cllr Duveen supports Cllr Hopper’s comments and says he’s concerned about both the light situation and the fact the plans have not been followed.

20:50

Cllr Brock

Cllr Brock says “something doesn’t add up”, but says there will be more light coming out of the building .

He says it will be “relatively noisy” and says he can’t understand how there’s “no material effect”.

He says he supports refusing the plan.

20:48

Cllr Tony Jones

Ward Councillor Tony Jones is now speaking.

He said the committee “gave very careful consideration” to the original plan.

He said: “If the windows need to be added for more natural light to come in, the point is, at this time of year, if you’re going to be using the building the lights will be on, will mean that you get light pouring out”.

20:45

Impact on neighbours

Cllr Maskell says bigger windows mean more light coming out of the building when the lights are on, which will have an impact on neighbours.

20:41

Applicant speaks

Mohammed Zabar is the applicant and says he’s worked closely with the officers to ensure there’s “no disturbance and harm done.

He says “all he wanted was a bit more light”

20:40

Extension plans in Allcroft Road

This is a plan to increase a gym in a home in Allcroft Road in Katesgrove.

Neighbours John Burningham and Nicola Tipler are speaking on the effect of the building, which they say will have a major effect on their privacy.

20:36

Second Hamilton Road plan approved

The plans are approved. Just. You’d imagine the council will keep a close eye on both these buildings in Hamilton Road.

20:34

Mixed views

The committee don’t really like this plan, but some think it can’t be refused and some think there are. The vote is coming up.

The buildings are not listed.

20:29

Cllr Maskell

Cllr Chris Maskell says he can’t find a reason within planning law to refuse the plan.

20:25

Cllr Hopper

Cllr Hopper says the applicant is applying to convert the house because he can’t rent it for a family.

He says he should sell it to a family instead.

He says the changes made are legal, but questions what living in a conservation area actually means for people if you can make such changes

He says he won’t be supporting the plans.

20:23

Cllr Williams

Cllr WIlliams gets a round of applause for saying he thinks the plans should be chucked out.

20:20

Cllr Williams

Cllr Josh Williams reiterates his comments from the previous application.

He says there are “various issues”, including the size of the bathroom, a small shower room by the door which would be used by six people.

“This will generate additional parking demand on a road that can’t cope”

20:17

Objectors

Peter Ruczynsk lives next door to the plan.

He says the developer cannot be trusted to comply with existing regulations.

He says the original slate roof has been removed and replaced by a “cheap” alternative.

He then says the road is a “recognised hotspot” for HMOs.

He says “we love our house and we love living in Hamilton Road.

“We enjoy sitting outside in our garden”.

He said they will suffer a loss of privacy and would be affected by noise from people coming and going from the site.

He also mentions the parking issue and says the application would lead to “at least five additional cars” coming to the road.

He said he doesn’t believe the parking at the property won’t be used, as the current owners prefer to park in the road.

20:12

Hamilton Road plan

And we move on to, another multiple occupancy home in Hamilton Road.

Applicant Dr Shoba Benjamin-Phillip wants permission to convert a house at the other end of the road into a home for seven people.

The council has recommended this be approved.

We’ve got three more public speakers on this plan coming up.

20:10KEY EVENT

Hamilton Road extension plan approved

The council approves the plans, but has added conditions no more parking spaces should allowed and the garden should remain a garden area, and that a that physical blocks needed to be added to stop additional parking.

The plans are granted, but two members vote against.

20:07

Enforcement

Cllr Jason Brock says if the development was approved the council would “keep a close eye” on any breaches of the conditions from the owners of the building

20:02

Cllr Page

Cllr Page says there is a “tension” with this type of plan, and says there has to be an “element of compromise”.

He says it’s a misrepresentation to suggest “nothing is being done” by the council over the parking issues, which draws laughter from the public gallery.

He says a consultation will be held in January and says if there is a majority in support of resident’s parking, plans will be made to do that.

He said if that happens “houses like this” won’t have entitled to a parking permit, which will “solve the problem”.

19:54

Parking restrictions

Cllr Ed Hopper says a physical restraint to stop additional parking needs to be added to the plan.

19:53

Discussion

Public speaking is over, it’s time for the councillors to discuss the plans.

Cllr Josh Williams says there are “various issues”.

He says there are concerns previous conditions on previous extension plans have not been met.

He says Hamilton Road is “a nightmare” for parking.

He says the seven one-bed and two flats could lead to more cars coming to the building and overspill parking on to the road.

Cllr Williams says he thinks the plans should be thrown out.

Cllr Emmett McKenna asks whether the building can extended again, and asks for a condition to ensure it can’t be made any bigger without permission.

He’s told because they are flats any future changes would need planning permission.

19:43

Agent for applicant

Jeff Asemi is speaking for the applicant.

He said the application will “address all the issues raised”.

He says the plan will “vastly improve the street scene” and says the plan will remove concrete from the front of the building and replace it with grass.

There are nine parking spaces proposed at the back and he says there won’t be a need for parking on the road.

19:40

Plans is recommended for approval

The council’s officers have recommended the plans be approved.

19:36

Hamilton Road

The next item is a plan for a large extension to a home in Hamilton Road in East Reading with the aim of converting it from a 12 bedroom house of multiple occupancy to a building containing seven one bedroom flats and two two bedroom flats.

The owner wants to build a single storey side and two storey rear extensions.

Speaker and neighbour Tatiana Harrison says the house is “already massive” and says it will have a huge effect on her house next door.

She raises a range of issues, overlooking, a loss of green space and an impact on wildlife.

She highlights the well-known “terrible” parking issues in the road.

George Renshaw takes over, saying the road is a conservation area, and that there have been 44 objections.